Thieves target charity van

1:53pm Monday 14th July 2008

• SECOND Chance Furniture, the long established charity which supplies donated furniture and other household appliances to local families on low incomes, suffered an unexpected blow recently when thieves stole a vital component from their van overnight on June 30.

The Transit Luton Van, which was parked outside their premises in Lynch Lane, Weymouth, had its exhaust system cut in two places, to allow the robbers to remove the catalytic converter.

Manager Howard Lester said: "We used the van the evening before the incident to carry out a mercy mission', delivering furniture to a client who only received the keys to their new flat in Littlemoor at 7pm and we returned to our base at 8.30pm.

By 8.30am the following morning, we found the van in an undrivable state. Apart from the cost of repairs, approximately £300.00, which we can ill-afford, it meant that important deliveries and collections had to be postponed.

Signwriting on the van clearly states we are a Registered Charity and so there is no doubt the thieves knew this, yet they still went ahead with this despicable crime.

This sort of incident is bad enough at any time, but to target a registered charity is incomprehensible and harms the needy local members of our Community we try to assist."

• URGENT notice: PACT (Partners & Communities Together) will be holding their next meeting on Wednesday, July 16, starting at 7pm.

The meeting will take place upstairs in the Wyke Working Men's Club, Portland Road, opposite the Co-op. PC Mark Edgar, or another member of the police if he is not available, will be in attendance.

He and PACT Chairman Jak Curtis-Rendall will be available to listen to and hopefully act upon problems and issues raised by members of the local community.

There will also be a brief follow up from the previous meeting. All are very welcome to attend.

• FORTUNATELY for the congregation of St Edmunds, the weather remained dry for their rose garden summer fete last Saturday, July 12.

Despite less than summery temperatures, a good number of people came along to support the event.

Sharandys birds of prey stand was very popular, as was the rector's water into wine' stall.

There was a flower festival in the church building itself featuring some very pretty floral arrangements and a programme of various acts including the Amberlite Majorettes entertained the crowd.

The skittles competition reached its climax during the afternoon with father, mother and son from one family, the Claydons, winning all three prizes which had been kindly donated.

Mr. Claydon had a score of nine and won a meal for two at the Admiral Hardy pub. His wife won a meal for two at the Marquis of Granby with her score of eight and their son's score of nine won him a DVD player. They were each also presented with wall plaques to mark their achievement.

A grand total of £1,300 was raised, just topping the £1,147 raised by St. Edmund's fellow congregation at All Saints' fete the previous week.

This was also well attended despite having to be relocated indoors in Chamberlain Hall at the last minute because of the near gale force winds.

Many thanks to all the members of the local community who supported both events.

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